Aston Villa defeated Lille 2-0 at Villa Park to advance to the Europa League quarter-finals.
Second-half goals from John McGinn and Leon Bailey gave Unai Emery’s side a 3-0 aggregate victory, ending their run in the Premier League and drawing them level with Bologna in the last eight.
They got off to a bright start, celebrating Emery’s 100th win for the club in a pre-match display before kick-off, but they had to wait for the breakthrough goal, with Amadou Onana having the best chance of the first half to deny Belke Ozer with a header.
Despite being trailed by a point in the first leg in France, Lille looked content to stay level and wait for the start, but despite coming on with more purpose after the interval, they were punished. Emiliano Martinez contributed to McGinn’s goal.
Emiliano Martinez celebrates Aston Villa’s opening goal against Lille
The Argentina international saved Nabil Bentaleb’s low free-kick and sent Jadon Sancho into the right channel on the counter-attack. It was the winger who discovered McGinn, making his first appearance at Villa Park since returning from injury.
Bailey had to wait longer than that, but substitute Ollie Watkins unselfishly brought him on and he scored Villa’s first goal in over a year. A fearless win was just what Villa needed ahead of Sunday’s crucial game against West Ham at Villa Park.
Sancho delighted at McGinn’s return
Aston Villa’s Jadon Sancho told TNT Sports:
“He brings a lot of energy to the locker room. We’re really happy to have him back. We’re happy to be able to help him today.”
“At halftime, Emi (Martinez) said it was one-on-one with me and Tammy (Abraham).
“As soon as I saw him get the ball, I just kept running and believed in him. I just saw the ball and when I chopped inside I saw John McGinn. And of course I had to make him play the ball.”
Emery says McGinn is ‘very important’
Manager Unai Emery said of John McGinn in a press conference:
“He needs time and today he added time for himself and the team. I think it will be very important to get fit again. Today he played 70 minutes and gradually got better.”
“In the first half, he regained his confidence, played on the left wing and was confident. Of course, after two games, if we can get players like him back, Youri Tielemans and Matty Cash, we will perform better.”
Emery praises Sancho’s quality
Asked if it was Jadon Sancho’s best performance, he said: “Hopefully he improves on the game he played, but of course he played well today. Sancho, he has some high-level qualities. Today he showed it in some moments.”
Emery: I think it was necessary.
“I’m happy with our performance in the two games, how we tried to play seriously, be organized and respect our opponents.
“Those two games weren’t that great, but we were consistent, defended well, dominated when we could dominate and were relentless against our opponents when we had momentum.
“I think we needed that. We needed those two games to show how competitive we can be.”
Analysis: Villa’s season is alive
As the final whistle rang out at Villa Park, they belted out The Simple Mind’s ‘Alive and Kicking’ and that’s how Emery’s side felt as they regrouped with a convincing win in front of their fans. Remember that Villa have lost their last three Premier League games.
Europe has often been Emery’s saving grace and this season could be the same, even if he is currently on track to qualify for the Champions League after making appearances in the Premier League. Fans are clamoring for silverware. So is he.
Unai Emery’s 100th win for Aston Villa was celebrated with a banner at the Holte End ahead of the match against Lille
His program notes told the story. “When I came here three and a half years ago, I shared the goal and dream of playing in Europe. Now it’s not a dream. It’s the norm, almost an obligation… it’s the level.” He added, “It’s important to enjoy a game like this.”
Villa hadn’t been tested as much recently. Lille could do little apart from Ayyoub Bouadi’s header in the first half and Olivier Giroud’s shot after the break being disallowed for offside. But the feeling of victory will be welcome. A reminder that their season is alive.
Quarterfinals: April 9th and 16th
Semi-finals: April 30th and May 7th
Final: May 20th (Istanbul, Besiktas Stadium)
